Susan Hayward

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Lore & Background

At age seven, she was struck by a car, fracturing her hip and breaking her legs, an injury that required a partial body cast and resulted in a permanent, distinctive hip swivel. She began her career as a fashion model before traveling to Hollywood in 1937 to audition for the role of Scarlett O'Hara. Though she did not get the part, she secured a film contract and performed small supporting roles, also posing for pinup publicity photos she disliked. Her dramatic abilities earned her five Academy Award nominations, beginning with her portrayal of an alcoholic in *Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman* (1947). She won the Oscar for her performance as death row inmate Barbara Graham in *I Want to Live!* (1958) and also received the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for *I'll Cry Tomorrow* (1955). Her film appearances became infrequent after her second marriage and move to Georgia, though she continued acting until 1972. She died of brain cancer in 1975.

Reader's Guide

Susan Hayward’s career was defined by her frequent portrayals of women whose lives were drawn from real events, a focus that distinguished her from many of her peers. She earned five Academy Award nominations for Best Actress, beginning with her role as an alcoholic in *Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman* (1947), and culminating in a win for her performance as death row inmate Barbara Graham in *I Want to Live!* (1958). Her nomination for *I’ll Cry Tomorrow* (1955) also brought her the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress. Hayward’s dramatic abilities were honed through a wide range of roles, from early bit parts at Warner Bros. to leading parts at Paramount, RKO, and Republic Pictures. She worked opposite stars such as Gary Cooper, John Wayne, and William Holden, and appeared in notable films including *Beau Geste* (1939), *Reap the Wild Wind* (1942), and *I Married a Witch* (1942). After her second marriage and a move to Georgia, her film appearances became less frequent, though she continued acting until 1972. Hayward died in 1975 of brain cancer. She is remembered as a versatile star who specialized in emotionally demanding, often biographical roles that showcased her intensity and resilience.

Did You Know?

• Hayward was born Edythe Marrener and changed her name by talent agent Max Arnow when she started at Warner Bros.
• She was hit by a car at age seven, fracturing her hip and legs, which left her with a distinctive hip swivel.
• She sang her own vocals in I'll Cry Tomorrow, though Jane Froman's voice was used in With a Song in My Heart.